Public hearings scheduled for review of Barrington budget

BARRINGTON — A budget increase of 5.48 percent, as well as the renovation of the old Town Hall, has been suggested for next year by the Selectmen, as they prepare for the town vote in March.

Two public hearings will take place in January to address the proposed budget and warrant articles. The hearings are scheduled for Jan. 7 and Jan. 14.

The proposed budget for next year is $6,247,168, compared with this year’s budget of $5,932,822.

If the proposed operating budget is approved, the tax rate would increase by about 35 cents per $1,000 assessed property value, said Town Administrator John Scruton.

He said about $145,000 of the proposed increase is related to the correct accounting for leave time for town employees; previously, leave time has not been adequately budgeted for, and expenditures had been taken out of the fund balance.

About $87,000 of the proposed budget increase pertains to increased health insurance and retirement costs the town will face next year.

Suggested additional hours for part-time town employees, proposed hiring of new part-time employees, and merit-based step increases for town employees, accounts for about $70,000 of the suggested budget increase.

After the public hearings, the Selectmen will examine the proposed budget and warrant articles, and, with any changes, put forward the official warrant for the vote in March, said Scruton.

One proposed warrant article would ask voters to contribute $2.33 million toward the renovation of the old Town Hall, located at 137 Ramsdell Lane. The renovation of the building has been recommended to the Selectmen by the Building Committee, which, since 2010, has been studying ways to provide adequate space for the municipal offices, SAU offices, the Recreation Department, and the library. Renovating the old Town Hall has been considered the least expensive way to provide enough space for those municipal functions. Other options included constructing new buildings, either on town property or on private land in the town center, which the town would purchase.

As the Fire and Rescue Department looks to add two part-time EMTs, to cover the day shifts on the weekends, a warrant article proposes to change the way ambulance fees are used. Currently, $25,000 of collected ambulance fees go toward the ambulance replacement fund, and the rest is used to offset taxes. If the proposed warrant article gets approved, 50 percent would go toward offsetting taxes; another 50 percent would be used to fund the two part-time EMTs and also to put away money toward replacing the ambulance down the road.

Another warrant article would establish a Bridge Capital Reserve fund, for engineering, construction, and replacement of town bridges. The article would place $55,000 in that fund. Scruton said the purpose of the warrant article is to be able to participate in the state’s Bridge Aid Program, which would provide an 80-percent match in funding to replace bridges in town. Before the town can get on the waiting list to participate in the program, preliminary engineering work needs to be done, said Scruton, so that cost estimates are available to state officials.

Also on the warrant will be a question on whether future warrant articles should include estimated impacts on the tax rate. Scruton said that while Barrington and many other towns have previously mentioned the tax impact on their warrant articles, the Legislature recently changed the law, so that the tax rate impact can only be mentioned on warrant articles after voters’ approval through a town vote.

Selectmen also proposed a warrant article that would change the way the town clerk is compensated. Currently, the town clerk is paid through a combination of salary and a portion of fees collected through the town clerk’s office. The warrant article proposes that the town clerk have a regular salary instead, at a level comparable to other employees. Scruton said the change would make the clerk’s compensation more predictable, and he does not envision a cost increase if the article is approved in March.

In a petition warrant article, voters will be asked whether Barrington will “establish a committee to draft a rights based ordinance to protect the Isinglass River.” Scruton said Thursday that he did not know what a “rights based ordinance” is, but he expects that the petitioner will talk more about the warrant article at the deliberative session, scheduled for Feb. 2.

“If this passes we establish a committee,” said Scruton. He said the petition warrant article likely came from the proposed gravel pit on Green Hill Road, in proximity to the Isinglass River, plans for which are being considered by the Planning Board.

At the request of a disabled veteran, the Selectmen also proposed a warrant article that would increase the Disabled Veterans’ Credit — from the current rate of $1,400, to the new rate of $2,000.

Having the tax collector be appointed rather than elected is also on the warrant article slated for March.

Other warrant articles would propose to put aside $175,000 toward future paving and road reconstruction; $50,000 toward saving for a new fire truck; $10,000 toward new fire and rescue equipment; $3,000 toward the library technology fund; and $5,000 toward a new compactor.

In preparation for having to replace two pieces of heavy equipment at the Highway Department, the Selectmen are also proposing to set aside $50,000 toward the Highway Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve fund.

Voters in March will also elect two selectmen, one trustee of the trust fund, one cemetery trustee, two library trustees, and one town moderator. All positions will involve three-year terms, except the elected town moderator, who will serve a two-year term.

The filing period for the elected positions is Jan. 23 through Feb. 1.

Scruton said residents can continue suggesting other warrant articles to the Selectmen until Jan. 14. Also, residents have until Jan. 8 to submit a petition warrant article.

The public hearings on the warrant articles will take place Jan. 7 and Jan. 14, at the Early Childhood Learning Center, at 6:30 p.m.

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